Injection device



INJECTION DEVICE E. R. L AwsHE Filed Jan. 19, 195s inni Aug. 31, 1954 4 IN V EN TOR. 'w/ du/Jia BY Kif-gg, M

Patented Aug. 1954 INJECTION DEVICE Errol R. Lawshe, Ridgewood, N. J., assignor to Becton,

Dickinson and Company, Rutherford,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 19, 1953,` Serial No. 331,842 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-216) This invention relates to a hypodermic injection device and aims to provide improved construction over that disclosed in my United States Patent 2,642,064 of June 16, 1953.

It is an object of the invention to furnish an apparatus by means of which hypodermic injections may be given with facility even under combat conditions; the present device embracing a unitary assembly the parts of which will be maintainedin sterile condition and maintained against accidental separation.

A further object is that of providing an improved unit which will have a one time use and the parts of which may be economically and readily produced, assembled, and sterilized.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of theinvention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side View of the assembly;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the parts after they have been potentialized for use;

Fig. 3 is a final fragmentary view illustrating the disposition of the parts while making an injection; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing structures which may be incorporated in the assembly.

In these views the numeral `El indicates the body of the device which initially is in the form i of a tube having one open end. That body receives. medicament and thereafter the open tube end is closed Yand sealed as indicated at4 6. All parts of the assembly may be formed. of plastic. Conveniently the body 5 is produced from polyethylene. Other parts may embrace the same material, involve polystyrene, or be otherwise formed. When employing materials o-f this nature it will be understood that the seal 6 may readily be provided by, for example, utilizing heat and pressure or proceeding in any other fashion to close the end of tube 5.

The opposite or outer end of the tube extends in the form of a neck portion 1, the mouth of which is closed by a perforable diaphragm 8. This diaphragm should conveniently be of thinner gage than the walls of tube 5 and neck 1. In any event, it is preferably integral or at least immovable with respect to the neck portion. As shown that portion may be slightly tapered. This isfin many respects, desirable. However, as will hereinafter be apparent `the neck can be truly cylindrical and free from any taper.

Overlapping the tip end of the neck as in Fig. 1 there is the rim of a cup-shaped member 9. The base of the latter is conveniently thickened as indicated at I0. Through this base there extends the body of a double pointed needle I I. 'Ihe inner end of this needle `should lic adjacent the edge of the `cup but slightly recessed within the same. |The diameter of the cup rim should be slightly in excess of the diameter of the outer end of nut 1.

Thus, the side Walls of these parts will bear against each other in their normal positions (Fig. 1) and the inner end ofI thecannula will, under these circumstances, not contact the diaphragm or pierceable portion 8.

Enclosing the cup 9 as well as neck tip 1 isan actuator in the :form of a cap I2 conveniently having a flange portion I3. That flange portion extends inwardly to define an orifice smaller than the diameter of cup base I0. The internal diameter of cap I 2 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of body '5. These parts in their initial position are slightly overlapped as again shown in Fig. 1. It is apparent that a seal of any desired type might be furnished to prevent any movement of the actuator cap with respect to the tube and to also prevent the entrance of air or foreign materials between these parts. This seal has not been shown in that it might take one of many different forms; seals of this nature being i well known inthe medical art. Flange I3 is continued in the form of an extension I4 which encloses the outer end of the needle. In this manner all critical parts of the assembly are completely protected and may be maintained in sterile condition for indenite periods of time.

Assuming the device is to be used, an operator will simply force cap I2` in the direction of' the sealed end portion 6 of body 5. In such movement any seal which exists between the rim of the cap and the body of the tube will be broken. If such a seal does not lend itself to that type of manipulation, then the seal may be removed prior to the telescoping of the parts. In any event as the parts are thus moved, flange I3 will bear against the base of cup 9. Therefore cup I0 will be telescoped with respect to neck l. In such telescoping the inner end of needle I I will penetrate the perforable portion 8. Therefore the bore of the cannula will be in communication with the chamber containing the medicament. When the side walls of the tip and cup are parallel to their axes a slip t will exist between these parts. If, as shown, they are slightly tapered or wedge shaped, then, due to the material of which they are preferably composed, they will adapt them.- selves to one another; the tip 'I being even capable of slight constriction without detriment.

During all of the foregoing operation the critical parts of the assembly have remained in sterile condition as in Fig. 2. drawn. Under these circumstances, cup 9 and the cannula `mounted thereby will remain in association with the tip. The cap may be discarded and tube 5, if desired, may be compressed while maintaining the unit upright and in order to expel any air Within body 5. Such expulsion Cap I2 may now be withwill be evidenced by medicament beginning to discharge from the outer end of the needle. Thereupon the outer needle end may be plunged through the epidermis. Under continued squeezing or collapsing of body 5 the medicament will be hypodermically injected. After the injection has been completed the needle is Withdrawn, and the entire assembly may be discarded.

It is desired to provide a detent structure preventing a separation of the cup and needle from the neck. Structures of this nature may embody one of a number of diierent designs. For example, as in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the body of the device is indicated by the numeral I5 and may again be formed of any desired material and embody any suitable design. A neck I6 corresponding to neck 'i extends from the body of the device. The cup i8 corresponds to the cup 9 and is furnished with base portion I9 through Which the needle extends. Adjacent the outer end of the neck a perforable portion is also provided and this is penetrated by the inner end of the needle as the cup is telescoped over the neck. In the form of device shown in Fig. 4, the detent is iurnished by providing a suitable number of recesses I1 in the outer face of the neck i6 and Which recesses or depressed portions receive dimples or projections 2@ formed in the side face or" cup I8. It is apparent that when these dimples enter the recesses under a proper seating of the parts such parts are restrained from further movements with respect to each other.

Again, in the form of device shown in Fig. 5, the side Walls of the cup I8 are provided with inwardly extending teeth or pawls 2 l. The latter will frictionally engage with the outer surface of neck i6 as the parts are telescoped. If outward movement of the cup is subsequently attempted, teeth 2l Will tend to bite into the outer surface of the neck to prevent such movement. In Fig. 6, the neck portion is provided with a bead 22 and cup I8 is furnished With a corresponding bead 23. When the parts are properly disposed in iinal position, bead 22 will enter the groove deiined on the inner face or cup I8 by bead 23.. Thus, the parts will, in effect, be locked.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

1. An injection device including in combination a medicament-containing body, a reduced neck extending from said body, a pierceable portion adjacent the outer end of said neck, an uninterrupted cup-shaped memberengaging and mounted for sliding movement on said neck, a double-ended needle extending through, iixed with respect to and solely supported by the base of said cup, said needle having an inner end terminating short oi said pierceable portion, a cylindrical actuator slidably contacting and encircling said body, said actuator being spaced from engagement with said cup, a base portion at the outer end of said actuator and overlying the base of said cup, said actuator base portion being formed with an opening through which the needle extends, an enclosing portion mounted by said actuator base portion to encircle said opening and enclose the outer needle end and cooperating detent means associated with said neck and the side wall of said cup-shaped member to prevent a separation of these parts.

2. An injection device including in combination a medicament-containing body, a reduced neck extending from said body, a pierceable portion adjacent the outer end of said neck, an uninterrupted cup-shaped member engaging and mounted for sliding movement on said neck, a double-ended needle extending through, fixed With respect to and solely supported by the base of said cup, said needle having an inner end terminating short of said pierceable portion, a cylindrical actuator slidably contacting and encircling said body, said actuator being space from engagement with said cup, a base portion at the outer end of said actuator and overlying the base of said cup, said actuator base portion being formed with an opening through which the needle extends, an enclosing portion mounted by said actuator base portion to encircle said opening and enclose the outer needle end and said neck and cup-shaped member being formed with relatively raised and recessed portions to engage with one Within the other and provide a detent preventing separation of said member from said neck.

3. An injection device including in combination a-medicament-containing body, a reduced neck extending from said body, a pierceable portion adjacent the outer end of said neck, an uninterrupted cup-shaped member engaging and mounted for sliding movement on said neck, a double-ended needle extending through, fixed with respect to and solely supported by the base of said cup, said needle having an inner end terminating short of said pierceable portion, a cylindrical actuator slidably contacting and encircling said body, said actuator being spaced from engagement with said cup, a base portion at the outer end of said actuator and overlying the base of said cup, said actuator base portion being formed with an opening through which the needle extends, an enclosing portion mounted by said actuator base portion to encircle said opening and enclose the outer needle end and a pawl associated with said cup-shaped member and extending inwardly of the same to engage with said neck and prevent separation of the member therefrom.

4. An injection device including in combination a medicament-containing body, a reduced neck extending from said body and including a side wall, a pierceable portion adjacent the outer end of said neck, an uninterrupted cup-shaped member including a side Wall irictionally engaging and mounted for sliding movement on said neck, a double-ended needle extending through, iixed with respect to and solely supported by the base of said cup, said needle having an inner end terminating short or said pierceable portion, a cylindrical actuator slidably contacting and en circling said body, said actuator being spaced from engagement with the side wall of said cup, a base portion at the outer end of said actuator and overlying the base of said cup, said actuator base portion being formed With an opening through which the needle extends, an enclosing portion mounted by said actuator base portion to encircle said opening and enclose the outer needle end and a detent structure mounted by at least one of said side Walls and cooperating with the other side Wall to prevent a separation of the neck and said cup-shaped member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

